ARS | Publication request: NOVEL APPROACHES TO BIODIESEL SYNTHESIS, PROCESS SIMULATION, AND COPRODUCT STREAM APPLICATIONS

Submitted to: Pacifichem Symposium
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: June 1, 2005
Publication Date: December 1, 2005
Citation: Marmer, W.N., Foglia, T.A., Haas, M.J. 2005. Novel approaches to biodiesel synthesis, process simulation, and coproduct stream applications. Program No. 576 [CD-ROM]. 2005 Abstract Viewer. Honolulu, Hawaii: International Chemical Congress of Pacific Basin Societies.

Technical Abstract: Biodiesel, for all its beneficial features, still can benefit from lower production costs, simpler techniques to monitor quality, and means to reduce the formation of NOx emissions. Research at ERRC has addressed these needs. We have investigated processes that produce the fuel from cheaper feedstocks--namely animal fats, materials such as grease and soapstocks containing high amounts of free fatty acid, and oil-bearing materials. Use of the latter involves the in situ transesterification of such materials as soy flakes, meat & bone meal, and distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS) without prior lipid extraction. Process simulation models assisted us in estimating the cost of biodiesel production. Research related to quality assessment has developed simplified chromatographic techniques to assess the extent of esterification and residuals restricted from ASTM-certified fuel and to determine the biodiesel content in blends with petrodiesel. We found that certain antioxidants can serve to suppress NOx emissions from the use of the fuel. Applications of the glycerol coproduct stream from biodiesel include prepolymer and polymer synthesis and use as a fermentation medium.